ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio — Belmont County is joining the legal fight against “forever chemicals.” On April 1, County Commissioners approved a retainer agreement with the law firm Napoli Shkolnik, headquartered in New York, to sue parties responsible for PFAS contamination in the county’s water and wastewater supplies.
The action is on behalf of the Belmont County Water and Sewer District, to prosecute any legal claim for negligence against any and all parties individuals and/or corporations that are found to be liable under the law for injuries and/or property damages arising out of contamination of water supplies and wastewater by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The legal action targets any corporations or individuals found negligent in the release of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to various health risks and require expensive specialized filtration.
Key Details of the Agreement:
- Target: Manufacturers and parties liable for “forever chemical” pollution.
- No Cost to Taxpayers: The law firm will only be paid if the county wins or settles the case.
- Legal Fees: The firm will receive 25% of the total recovery (or a lower amount if ordered by the court). If no money is recovered, the county owes nothing.
